Delhi Cargo Terminal Facilities: Key Services for Efficient Cargo Handling

Located in the capital of India, the Delhi Cargo Terminal is an important air cargo logistics center. Since it is South Asia’s largest cargo gateway, the Indira Gandhi International Airport has a very advanced infrastructure for various types of cargo. In this blog, we will look at the major services at Delhi Cargo Terminal, which has made the capital city of India a more prominent center than other air cargo hubs.

Strategic Infrastructure and Capacity

The cargo facilities at Delhi Airport cover 150 acres with an annual capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes that can be scaled up to 2.3 million metric tonnes. It handles more than one million metric tonnes of cargo annually, almost 30% of the air cargo business in India. The types of cargo that the Delhi Cargo Terminal can accommodate include perishables, pharmaceuticals, and general freight. They include:

• Advanced facilities allowed under Good Distribution Practices (GDP) have temperature-controlled zones capable of maintaining temperatures up to -20°C to +25°C. This ensures proper handling of sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals and perishables.
  
  
• The Delhi Cargo Terminal has 12 dedicated freighter parking bays that enable the efficient handling of large volumes of cargo traffic. Simultaneous loading and unloading operations may be conducted on one aircraft, significantly reducing turnaround times.

Advanced Technology Integration

Delhi Cargo Terminal uses the best technological developments to offer cargo handling services. Some of the prominent technological features include –

• Integrated Cargo Management System: This system allows the real-time monitoring of the cargo’s journey in the Delhi Cargo Terminal. It also integrates well with the customs, airlines, and other stakeholders while ensuring minimal or no delay.
  
  
• Automated Weighing and Measuring System: The systems in Delhi Cargo Terminal ensure accurate measurements of the ULDs to ensure the efficiency of operations as per the standards set by the regulatory body.
  
  
• QR Code-Based e-Gate Pass Facility: A state-of-the-art solution reduces paperwork by eliminating documentation cycles. This solution enhances security and efficiency, thereby reducing human handling in cargo engagements.

Cold Chain Logistics

Cargo facilities in Delhi Cargo Terminal include an excellent cold chain logistics capability. The airport has taken several measures to maintain a seamless cold chain for temperature-sensitive shipments.

Cool Dolly Units

These special vehicles are made to take temperature-sensitive cargo from the Delhi Cargo Terminal to the aircraft while keeping in mind the required temperature conditions. This, therefore, applies especially in the case of pharmaceutical products and perishable goods that have to maintain specific ranges of temperatures during transit.

The pharmaceutical logistics centers in Delhi Cargo Terminal are dedicated centers for the storage and handling of pharmaceuticals and have been established as per international standards. The centers possess pre-cool facilities and multiple chambers with different temperatures.

Transshipment Excellence Centre

To further its role as a transhipment hub, Delhi Airport has established the first dedicated Transshipment Excellence Centre in India. The facility of 7,500 square meters provides for speedy processing of transhipment cargo within an average time of just 20 minutes. The TEC is placed strategically at the airside of the Delhi Cargo Terminal, thus providing an easy and smooth fit with other operations. This center has greatly improved the processing time and efficiency of transhipment shipments.

Comprehensive Cargo Handling Services

Delhi Cargo Terminal offers an extremely diverse range of services, making it a one-stop place for all air cargo requirements, including:

• The Delhi Cargo Terminal provides 24×7 customs clearances for import and export shipments, ensuring that processing times are met with customer expectations.
  
  
• Many logistics players utilize on-airport warehousing facilities to consolidate cargo, among others. This presents another form of standardization, hence increasing efficiency at every step of supply.
  
  
• There are several segregated sections in the Delhi Cargo Terminal for different types of cargo, such as hazardous materials, live animals, and valuable products. Due to this, each shipment type will be managed accordingly, based on its nature.

Recognition and Future Prospects

It is no surprise that Delhi Cargo Terminal’s intent on going the extra mile to be excellent in cargo handling hasn’t gone unseen. Delhi Airport has been given several awards for this effort. It got the “Best Cargo Airport – Infrastructure” award in 2023.

While upgrading services, Delhi Airport will continue to scale up in its capabilities, bound to reach its goal of handling 10 million metric tonnes before 2030 ends.

In Conclusion

The Delhi Cargo Terminal infrastructure is designed with cutting-edge technology that caters to the collective betterment of air cargo handling. Delhi Cargo Terminal is well placed to maintain its position as the top air cargo hub in South Asia as its capabilities are expanded and service quality is improved through consistent investments. Needless to say, there are some great opportunities for cargo handling in the Delhi Cargo Terminal now as well as in years to come.